The Israeli Protection Forces and the Israel Securities Authority killed Hamas co-founder Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in a strike in Gaza Metropolis on Friday, a press release from the IDF mentioned.
Al-Issa was hit within the space of Sabra throughout the metropolis, the assertion mentioned.
“Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a key supply of information and one of many final remaining senior Hamas terrorists within the Gaza Strip who held high-ranking positions earlier than October seventh, 2023,” the IDF mentioned.
The Israeli navy described Al-Issa as a senior determine within the militant group’s navy wing and mentioned he was thought of a founding father of each Hamas itself and Hamas’ navy wing. On the time of his loss of life, he was serving as head of its fight help headquarters.
Al-Issa was additionally a member of Hamas’ Common Safety Council, the IDF mentioned. Prior to now, Al-Issa led the group’s “force-buildup efforts within the Gaza Strip” and served as head of the coaching headquarters.
The IDF mentioned Al-Issa “performed a major position within the planning and execution of the brutal October seventh bloodbath,” however uncared for to share what position he performed.
Greater than 1,200 folks had been killed when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took greater than 250 folks hostage. Almost two years later, 50 folks stay in captivity in Gaza, however 28 of these persons are believed to be useless.
Israel’s retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip has killed greater than 56,000 folks and has left hundreds extra wounded, displaced and with sparse assets, together with meals, water and medical provides.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday indicated {that a} ceasefire may come into play throughout the subsequent week. It was not clear whether or not it will be a short lived or everlasting ceasefire, or if any prisoner exchanges can be concerned like in previous non permanent ceasefire agreements.
In the course of the warfare between Israel and Hamas, Al-Issa labored to rebuild Hamas’ organizational methods that had been broken in Israeli strikes, the IDF mentioned. Additionally all through the warfare, the IDF mentioned Al-Issa superior assaults towards Israeli residents and IDF troops in Gaza.
The IDF in its assertion pledged to “find and remove all terrorists from the completely different terrorist organizations who took half within the brutal October seventh bloodbath.”
Israel has killed various different high-ranking Hamas officers because the Oct. 7 assault, together with chief Mohammed Sinwar in Could.
